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Toms River will save $13M by busing kids to private school: Letter

Asbury Park Press
Published 5:05 p.m. ET Aug. 24, 2018

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Toms River Regional Superintendent David M. Healy discusses community's response to his letter asking residents to write letters asking for more state aid.
Jean Mikle, @jeanmikle

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The essential cause of the demise of the public schools in Lakewood is not the Orthodox community but rather the collection of state and federal laws that govern the busing of students and the education of special-needs children.(Photo: FILE PHOTO)Buy Photo

Regarding the Aug. 23 article “Toms River Regional will pay $850K for parents to transport kids to Lakewood religious schools,” there is a crucial point that has been ignored. By sending children to private schools, Toms River residents are actually saving over $15,000 in tax money per child, totaling $13,233,650 for 850 students.

As all Toms River homeowners pay their share of property taxes, private school parents are contributing equally to the public school coffers to that of their neighbors who educate their children by sending them to public school. According to state statistics, Toms River Regional last year spent $16,659 per public-school student. The district is only required to pay $1,000 for transportation services to those attending a private school, which is $15,569 less than the district is paying for Toms River public school students.

For those who question the legalities of using taxpayer money for transportation to religious schools, the question was proven constitutional in a 1947 U.S. Supreme Court case. It was ruled that since taxpayer money for transportation to private schools goes to the parents, regardless of religion, and not to the religious institution itself, there is nothing illegal about reimbursing parents for transportation costs.

Towns with growing numbers of private school students should embrace the savings. I doubt anyone would suggest that any particular community should be prevented from attending the school of their choice, whether public or private. Parents who send their children to private schools, despite their rights to a full public school education, and despite the fact that they are contributing to the costs of public schools with their tax dollars, willingly choose to shoulder the burden of their child’s education at their own expense. By doing so, they save the district and all its taxpayers a tremendous amount of money. Residents of these towns should be grateful to the private school parents.